Steve McMichael Says He's Bearing Down to Become Romeoville's Next Mayor
The former Chicago Bears star, who owns Mongo McMichael's in Romeoville, is "dead serious" about his run for office.
Steve "Mongo" McMichael has been many things in his life: Chicago Bears defensive tackle and Super Bowl champion, World Championshp Wrestling commentator and wrestler, Professional Indoor Football League head coach, ESPN 1000 radio football analyst, and owner of Mongo McMichael's sports bar and restaurant.
Now he wants to add another line to the resume: Mayor of Romeoville.
McMichael went on "The Waddle & Silvy Show" on ESPN 1000 this morning to announce his candidacy, stressing that he is "dead serious" about making a run against incumbent Mayor John Noak in the April 2013 election.
McMichael, 54, said he's been approached by several people about making the run.
"They've been mentioning to me that they're not happy, and they want me to run for mayor," he said. "And by God, when I came to be a man, I put away childish things, I'm going to do it."
(To listen to the McMichael's radio interview, click here.)
McMichael said he was making the formal announcement sooner than he had been planned because he'd been "outed" by WJOL-AM radio show host Scott Slocum Tuesday morning. However, he refuted a comment reportedly made by Slocum about one of his goals being to reopen Crazy Rock, the strip club on Route 53 that was recently purchased by the village for future economic development.
He called it an "eyesore" that most people in Romeoville wanted to see gone.
"(The Crazy Rock sign) has got to come down," McMichael said.
His goal, he said, is to be a mayor who serves the will of the people.
"What do the people of this town want me to do (as mayor)? That's what I should do," McMichael said. "(The mayor) works for the people. In other words, he's a mediator. He does what they want done in that town."
Another impetus in his decision is his 4-year-old daughter, who will soon be starting school in Romeoville, he said.
He's prepared to be a full-time mayor, he said, because other than his analyst duties on ESPN radio shows before and after Chicago Bears games, he's "virtually retired."
"I want you to realize, and you guys can hear this in my voice, I'm dead serious about this," he said. "This is not a joke. I don't take people's futures and their families' futures lightly, baby."
irontrain
6:45 pm on Thursday, August 16, 2012
Keep your current attitude. Don't allow yourself to become a puppet of the corporates and you may find this to be the role you were made for. Good luck.
Matt
6:52 pm on Thursday, August 16, 2012
Seriously? We don't need a celebrity mayor in Romeoville. I think the town looks better now than it ever has and we have a very well balanced budget. John Noak has been a great mayor and will still get my vote.
MelloYello
8:36 pm on Thursday, August 16, 2012
Go STEVE!!! Can't wait to vote for you!
David Schiro
8:57 pm on Thursday, August 16, 2012
This town needs an actual public servant like our current Mayor and not someone who doesn't even live or has ever lived in this town. Mr. McMichael there is more to running this town than receiving accolades from your fans! It takes hard work and dedication to this community to do the job. What are you qualifications Mr. McMichael? Our current Mayor has done a wonderful job for this town and he is an asset to the people of Romeoville. You were a great football player on one of the best teams in NFL History and I and many credit you for that but this town needs and has great Mayor already.
Shelie Jones
9:35 pm on Thursday, August 16, 2012
Our little village has grown leaps and bounds over the past decade or so and I, for one, am flattered that a celebrity of Steve McMichaels magnitude has been so drawn to it that he'd like to not only be a part of it, but a KEY part. However; our current mayor would be a tough act to follow. He's brought in businesses which helped create over 1,000 jobs last year and will bring in at least 500 more by the end of the year. He's created numerous free events designed for the entire family, improved our streets, addressed the problems we've had concerning tree roots destroying our sewer systems and sidewalks, upgraded our community buildings, acquired land, improved our school system, showed an active interest in community, made himself readily available and accessible to the entire community 24/7 via a personal facebook page which he DOES check and respond to almost daily, and MOST importantly has LIVED here and been part of this community. He ran for Mayor and was elected as such because of his passion for this town... not because he was about to retire and looking for a hobby... not because some people drinking in a bar that he owns said he should and certainly not because he was a celebrity. With all due respect to Mr.McMichael, we are not a conquest, we are not a trophy to be placed on a shelf, we are not a project to fill someones impending free-time. We are a village, we are people with futures, and hopes, and dreams... and Mayor Noak is ONE OF US. Thanks, I'll vote Noak.
Rville Resident
9:49 pm on Thursday, August 16, 2012
Very well put, Shelie. Don't forget the movement on developing 'downtown' Romeoville, as well as purchasing Crazy Rock in order to rid our town of that eye sore.
Donna Lynn Bravo-Sybert
11:03 am on Friday, August 17, 2012
I totall agree with you Shelie!!!
Wayne M.
8:04 pm on Friday, August 17, 2012
I also say, 'well put' and agree with you Shelie.
Toni
10:14 am on Sunday, August 19, 2012
Could not have said it better! Thank you. Mayor Noak has done a wonderful job for Romeoville despite the economy. He has a true vision for the village and I look forward to the future of our town.
Laura Canniff
6:34 am on Friday, August 17, 2012
I feel he is doing this for his personal interests and alterior motives which is NOT the person we want as mayor. Our citizens deserve a public servant, like our current mayor. I heard he is renting just to claim his residency. We need someone who had made a permanent time commitment in this town.
Doug D.
4:24 pm on Friday, August 17, 2012
I agree completely with Laura... I certainly am a fan of Mongo and I like to see our town get celebrity attention and perhaps someday the Bears' training camp, but I could not be pleased more with the efforts and results I get from Mayor Noak. In the absence of some "SMOKIN GUN" scandal, I will vote John Noak for Mayor again.
Mason Frost
7:30 am on Friday, August 17, 2012
McMichael said on the radio (paraphrase) that he could be mayor since he was good at Football and Wrestling and never did those before. Seriously? Noak has done an incredible job through tumultuous times. Imagine what a great community we would have today if Noak would have had Dewald's last 6 years of tenure during the good economic times. If there are enough people that want McMichael as mayor then I will leave the keys in the front door and the bank can have it. It will be a complete joke and we might as well have Betty Lauren Maltese as mayor.
Jim Maza
8:32 am on Friday, August 17, 2012
GO MONGO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Matt
8:46 am on Friday, August 17, 2012
GO NOAK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm Just Saying
10:11 am on Friday, August 17, 2012
Crazy Rock use to be a Place where TEENS of the Vill to go Dance and Be with Friends Years AGO .. Then Wally took over and turned into Adult Disco then Into Strip Bar. It needs to come down or be something worth wild what about having something for Romeoville Humane Society !!!!! Old Village Hall would of been GOOD for that . Fred Dewald Was a good Mayor also He did lots for the Village But time changes...
Carol Cawvey
2:09 pm on Friday, August 17, 2012
McMichael can't even bring his restaurant up to ADA codes, how is he going to do anything good for Romeoville. I have no use for people who have total disregard for people with disabilities. John Noak does live in the village, he is raising a family in Romeoville. Look back at all of the changes he has done for Romeoville. Crazy Rock just one of them. For the first time in a long, long while, Romeoville has a Mayor who is dedicated to the village and is well respected by all. If McMichael wants to be mayor why isn't he out meeting and interacting with the residents. John Noak is at all events in the village. He interacts and enjoys being with the people. I haven't seen McMichael doing that. He has just decided that he wants to be mayor to add to his resume. No thoughts on what he will do for the village. Take the bench McMichael, you are out of your league here!
Jimmy Mac
2:21 pm on Friday, August 17, 2012
He would be a perfect Mayor for that White Trash / Illegal Alien Trailer-Park Village.
Lauren
5:24 pm on Friday, August 17, 2012
I have met Mr. McMichael on a few occasions while he was donating his time for the community of Romeoville. I do not believe that he would ever have total disregard for people with disabilities. Mr. McMichael has donated his time to the Lion's club of Romeoville for 2 years to help raise money for our community, these functions that he has attended helps with food baskets, glasses and hearing aids for the residents of Romeoville. When he has had previous engagements he has donated autographed bears memorabilia. He was also very accessible signing autographs for those who wanted ones up at romeofest 2 nights. Prior to coming to romeofest one evening he was helping with a football camp at RHS. Mr. McMichael and his family should be welcomed into Romeoville just as we would anyone else, not because he is a celebrity, but they are newer residents. I am reserving my judgement on the mayoral election until I am fully educated on what each candidate can offer Romeoville. I have been a life long resident here as a lot of us are, I went to schools out here and so have my children. I have seen a lot of changes over the years good and bad. I still have an open mind, everyone should. Since Mr. McMichael just announced his canidacy for mayor, I'm sure there will be questions answered and statements made as with any other politician running.
Petra Burgess
5:11 pm on Saturday, August 18, 2012
Did you mention the cost for kids to attend the football camp? Hundreds of dollarrs and did you mention that romeoville high school students could not aattend the camp on THErE field but bolingbrook hs was invited?
jim
5:25 pm on Saturday, August 18, 2012
Go Mongo!
Jennifer
6:40 pm on Sunday, August 19, 2012
Mr. Noak illegally put campaign signs on forclosed properties last time and got busted. He is not to be trusted...
Ashley
10:30 am on Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Go Steve!! I believe Steve will make the necessary improvements, that Romeoville needs. He will make a great mayor!